What happens when golf stops being just a hobby and starts becoming a life reset?

In this episode of Going OB, Craig is joined by Joel Smith, the creator behind the YouTube channel Golf Life Crisis, to talk about one of the boldest challenges in amateur golf content — stepping away from a full-time job to dedicate a year to chasing scratch while documenting every high, low, and doubt along the way.

This isn’t a swing-tips episode or a highlight reel. Joel opens up about redundancy, motivation, burnout, injury, and the realities of trying to genuinely improve at golf — physically, mentally, and emotionally — while building a content channel from the ground up.

From practice structure and coaching, to data, simulators, YouTube pressure, and the fear of losing the joy of the game, this is a wide-ranging conversation about why we chase improvement, not just how.

If you’ve ever felt stuck at a handicap plateau, overwhelmed by golf advice, or questioned why you care so much about getting better — this one will hit home.

👤 Guest Information

Joel Smith

Creator of Golf Life Crisis

📺 YouTube: Golf Life Crisis

📸 Instagram & TikTok: @golflifecrisis

💬 DMs open on Instagram

Craig Purves

Host of Going OB

🎙️ Podcast: Going OB

📸 Instagram: @goingobgolf

▶️ YouTube: GoingOBTV